Balustrade post



March 25, 1930. A. F. MILLER BALUSTRADE POST Filed Aug. 24, 1928 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 25, 1930 PATENT OFFICE ALBERT F. MILLER, 01 KANSASCI'IY, KANSAS BALUSTRADE POST Application filed August 24, 1928.

My inventionrelates to improvements in balustrade posts adapted for use as newel posts, or for use with balcony railings.

One of the objects of my invention is to '6 providea post of the kind described, which is cheap, light, durable, strong, which is easily and quickly assembled and fastened together without the use of screws, and which presents anattractive appearance.

My invention provides further a metal post composed of metal plates which form the sides of the post, and novel means by which the-plates are interlocked and held together.

The novel 1 features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. l' is'a side view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, and partly broken'away of my improved post.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2of Fig. 1.

Fi'gr3 is atop View of the post with the cap removed;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view, partlybroken away of one of the vertical side plates of the post body.

Fig.5 is-a top view, enlarged, of portions of two of the sideplates and one of the locking bars connected therewith.

Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview, enlarged of a portion of one of'the'locking bars.

Fig. 7 5m plan view,reduced, of the base plate.

Fig.;8is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

9 is an enlarged inside corner elevasenor portions of two interlocked side plates and "a portion ofoneof the locking bars engaged therewith. 7

Similar reference characters designatesimilar parts in the: different views.

The post is provided with a body comprisingfour-vertical metal plates 1, each of which is provided along each longitudinal edge with inwardly extending arms, the arms 2 at one edge'beingidisposed; as are the arms 3 at-the other edge, spaced. apart the width of one arm. 'The arms ateach edge are disposed respeetivelye-in the horizontal planes of the Serial N0. 301,766.

spaces between the arms at the other edge, Fig. 4.

The plates 1 are disposed each at an angle to the two plates next adjacent thereto, and the arms 2 of each plate cross the adjacent arms 3 of one adjacent plate 1, while the arms 3 cross the arms 2 of the other adjacent plate 1.

Each of the arms 2 and 3 is provided with an inwardly extending shoulder 4 adapted to embrace one of the inner sides of a vertical corner locking bar 5, which, as shown, is square in cross section.

lVhen two of the plates 1 are assembled with their arms 2 and 3 crossed and interlocked, as shown in Fig. 9, a locking bar 5 is inserted endwise between the crossed arms, and has its inner sides engaged by the shoulders 4 of the two sets of arms, thereby firmly locking the plates 1 to each other. The other two plates are connected to each other and to the first two plates in like manner, four cor: ncr locking bars being employed to lock. to gether the plates at the four corners respectively.

To support the post body, which has just been described, there is provided a horizontal base plate 6, which is provided at its edges with downwardly extending flanges 7 that rest on the floor or stair, as" the case maybe. The base plate 6 is provided with four slots 8 through which respectively extend four arms 9, with which the lower ends of the four side plates 1 are respectively provided.

After the arms 9 have been extended through the slotsS, said arms are bent inwardly so as to bear against the under side of the base plate 6 upon the upper side of which the plates 1 rest. The plates 1 are thus locked to the base plate. To brace the post body, and also to improve the appearanceof the post, there is provided a skirt into which the lower end of the post body extends, and which comprises four vertical metal plates 10, the lower ends of which are respectively at the outer sides of and spaced from the plates 1, and which at their upper ends are provided each with an inwardly extending flange 11 adapted to hear at its inner edge against the adjacent plate 1.

" of a balustrade.

Each of the skirt plates 10 is provided at its longitudinal edges with inwardly extending arms 12, corresponding to the arms 2 of the plates 1, and arms 13 corresponding to the arms 3, arranged to cross and interlock with the adjacent arms of adjacent plates 10. Each of the arms 12 and 13 has a shoulder 14 corresponding to the shoulders 4, above described.

Four vertical corner locking bars 15, corresponding to the locking bars 5, are respectively located in the four corners of the skirt, and engage the shoulders 15 of adjacent arms 12 and 13, as do the locking bars 5 engage the arms 2 and 3.

The lower ends of the plates 10 rest on the base plate 6, and have at their lower ends respectively arms 16, which respectively extend through slots 17, provided in the base plate 6, said arms 16 being bent outwardly,

' Figs. 2and 8, and bearing against the under side of the plate 6, thus anchoring the skirt to the base plate 6.

The upper end of the post body has mounted on it a cap 18, Fig. 1, which may be, at-

tached, if desired, by soldering, brazing, welding or otherwise.

One side plate 1, may be provided with two holes 19, Figs. 1 and 3 for respectively receiving the hand rail 20, and the bottom rail 21 Screws 22 respectively mounted in the rails 20 and 21, inside the post body, hold the rails from outward movement by contacting with the adjacent plate 1. Or other means may be used for fastening the rails.

In assembling the parts, the plates '1 have their arms 2 and 3 interlocked, as has been described, and the locking bars 5 are engaged with the arms 2 and 3.

The plates 10 then have their arms 12 and 13 interlocked, as described, and the locking bars 15 engaged with said crossed arms.

The plates 1 arethen inserted between the plates 10 and the latter and theplates 1 are mounted on the base plate 6 with the arms 9 of the plates 1 extending through the slots 8,

and-the arms 16 extending through the slots 17 in the base plate 6. The'arms 9 and 16 are then bent laterally-against the underside of the base plate, as described hereinbefore. f Therails 20 and 21 are then inserted into the holes 19 respectively and the screws 22 mounted in therails, the base plate 6 having therethrough ahole 23, Fig. 7, through which the fastening screw may be inserted in the bottom of the rail 21. The cap 18 is then mounted on the upper end of the post body, as shown in Fig. 1. I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as many modifications, within the. scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What, I claim is 1. In a balustrade post, vertical side plates 7 ternate with the adjacent adjacent ones of which are disposed at an angle to each other, each plate along each longitudinal edge having a set of spaced inwardly extending arms which cross and alset adjacent plate, and vertical corner locking bars at the inner sides of said plates and respectively embraced and held from lateral movement by the adjacent crossed arms of adjacent plates.

2. In a balustrade post, a post body, and a tubular skirt into which said body extends and comprising vertical side platesadjacent ones of which are disposed at an angle to each other, each plate at its upper end having an inwardly extending flange which has'its inner edge against the adjacent side of said body, each plate along each longitudinal edge having spaced inwardly extending arms which cross and alternatewith adjacent arms of the adjacent plate, and vertical corner looking bars between said body and said plates and respectively embraced and: held each other, each plate at its upper end having an inwardly extending flange which has its inner edge againstthe adjacent side of.

said body, each post along each of its longitndinal edges having spaced inwardly extending arms which cross andalternate with the adjacent arms of the adjacent plate, vertical corner locking bars between said plates and said body and respectively embraced and held from lateral movement by the adjacent crossed arms of adjacent plates, and a base 5 plate upon which said body rests, said base plate having slots therethrough, said plates having at theirlower ends angular arms which extend respectively through said, slots and bear against the under side-of said base plate. g j V 4. Ina balustrade post, a post body comprising vertical side plates adjacent ones of which are disposed at an angle to each other, each plate having along each longitudinal edge inwardly extendingarms which: cross and alternate with the adjacentarms of the adjacent plate, and vertical cornerlocking bars at the inner sides of said plates, and respectively embraced and held'from lateral movement by the adjacent crossed arms of adjacent plates, and a baseplatehaving slots therethrough, said plates at their lower ends prising verticalside platesadjacent ones of adjacent plate,

which are disposed at an angle to each other, each plate having along each longitudinal edge inwardly extending arms which cross and alternate with the adjacent arms of the and vertical corner locking bars at the inner sides of said plates and respectively embraced and held from lateral movement by the adjacent crossed arms of adjacent plates, a base plate upon which the lower ends of said plates rest, said base plate having, slots therethrough, said plates at their lower ends having angular arms respectively extending through said slots and bearing against the under side of said base plate, and a skirt supported by said base plate and into which said plates extend, said skirt at its upper end bearing against the said post body.

6. In a balustrade post, a post body comprising vertical side plates adjacent ones of which are disposed at an angle to each other, each plate having along each longitudinal edge inwardly extending arms which cross and alternate with the adjacent arms of the adjacent plate, and vertical corner locking bars at the inner sides of said plates and respectively embraced and held from lateral movement by the adjacent crossed arms of adjacent plates, a base plate upon which the lower ends of said plates rest and which has slots therethrough, said plates having angular arms respectively extending through said slots and bearing against the under side of said base plate, and a skirt comprising vertical plates at the outer side of and spaced from said body plates at said base plate and attached to said base plate and having flanges at their upper ends bearing against said post body plates respectively, and means for interlocking said skirt plates with each other.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT F. MILLER. 

